Building construction



' Jan. 30, 1 968 L. sPERLlNG 3,365,846

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 7 Filed Au 6. 1964 2 Sheets-Shegt 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

. Jab. 30, 1968 L. L. SPERLING 3,36

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 6, 1964 2S22ets-Sheet f2 INVENTOR.

L 5/1 15 4.5PEP 9- BY 03 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,365,846 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Lewis L. Sperling, 2022 Glen Ross Road,

Silver Spring, Md. 20910 Filed Aug. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 387,841 4 Claims. (Cl. 52-86) This invention relates to building construction, and has particular applicability to a novel and improved roof construction for buildings.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved roof construction to be substituted for the conventional A-frames used in building A roofs, which consists of one or more arcuate members adapted to be extended longitudinally of the building, and inclined inwardly to meet at their apex, to form an A roof.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a plurality of arcuate segments of a frame as above mentioned, which may be interconnected, and extended to any desired length.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement of this character wherein the angle of abutment of a pair of opposed arcuate supporting members may be varied as desired in accordance with the angle of the inclination of the roof being constructed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement of this character which readily lends itself to the addition of dormer Windows or the like, at the ends of the structure between the diverging ends of the arcuate frame members.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby a series of arcuate supporting members may be interconnected with a minimum of time, effort and difficulty, and subsequently disconnected for reuse if desired.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a frame member as above described which is readily transportable, which may be reutilized, which may be assembled and disassembled in combination with other elements or other building structures, which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and utilize.

Other objects will in part be obvious, and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of arcuate supporting elements in accordance with the instant invention, shown as interconnected, to form a unitary roof beam structure.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing a plurality of units assembled to form a roof frame for a building structure.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows showing the method of longitudinal connection of a plurality of arcuate members constructed in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the method of interconnection of the abutting arcuate members, and the central support therefor.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a building constructed in accordance with the instant invention, and employing Patented Jan. 30, 1968 FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a building employing the roof beam structure of the instant invention in conjunction with a louvered ventilator.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing a rain and snow shield formed over a window in a building constructed according to this invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a canvas tent supported by a frame constructed in accordance with the instant invention, and,

FIG. 10 is a plan view partially broken away of the modified form of arcuate roof support employed in the construction of FIG. 6.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, the basic structural unit of the instant invention is generally indicated at 10, and comprises, in the illustrative form shown, a beam of H-shaped cross section, including a top flange 11, a web 12 and a bottom flange 13. Obviously the top flange may be omitted if desired, and a T-shaped beam may be employed, but it has been found that the H beam provides the maximum desirable structural strength. The units 10 may be constructed in any desired length, and of any desired radius of curvature. A single unit may be employed for one half of the roof structure of the building, or alternatively, a plurality of longitudinally connected shorter units may be employed. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 three arcuate sections 10 are connected longitudinally to form each side of the frame. The connecting means may be of any desired form, but in the illustrative embodiment shown, is comprised of a slide 14 which is arcuate in longitudinal configuration to conform to the configuration of the particular beams or components with which it is associated, and which includes a bottom plate 15, having reverted side flanges 16 which overlie the bottom flange of the pair of beams. The sides may be linearly moved as desired, until they cover the joints between two beam sections as indicated at 17 in FIGS. 1 and 2, and they may be then welded in position, as by means of welds 18, or suitably bolted to the web 12 of the lower flange 13. Additional slide connectors may be provided on the upper flange 11 if desired for reinforcing purposes, although a single slide has been found to be sufficient for normal usage.

Obviously other means of interconnection may be employed such as bayonet joints, butt welding, longitudinally extending bolted plates, or the like, but the above described connector has been found most efficacious, par ticularly in the use of temporary buildings where it is desired to assemble and disassemble the roof structure.

In constructing a building employing the components of the instant invention it has been found desirable to provide a pair of arcuate component members 10 as shown in FIG. 2, the corners of which 20 are mounted on the corner posts of the building, and which are inclined at any desired angle of inclination to meet. at their central point 21. Although it is not absolutely essential, a central support 22 has been found to be desirable, and when such a support is used, it is customarily employed with a top plate 23 having a vertical web 24 and angularly inclined the structural elements thereof, showing a modified form of construction wherein the ends of the arcuate members end flanges 25. The end flanges 25 are bolted as by means of bolts 26, or other similar connecting members, to the adjacent webs 12 of the sections 10 immediately adjacent thereto.

If desired, side supporting posts 40 may be provided located centrally of the sides of the building and angularly disposed braces 41 may extend to the bottom of each connecting slide 14 as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the construction herein described is particularly adaptable to the provision of dormer windows. A frame, comprised of a horizontal member 28, a pair of inclined members 29, and a transverse support 30 may be suitably bolted or otherwise secured to the tops of the opposed adjacent arcuate members to provide a dormer frame generally indicated at 31, which may be formed as an integral part of the building. Obviously the angularly inclined members 29 may have substituted therefor 21 single arcuate member, or a rectangular frame, or any other desired form of dormer construction.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, siding material, which may take the form of roofing sheets, shingles, slate, or any other desired material, is positioned over the sides of the building as indicated at 32, and transversely across the ends thereof as indicated at 33 to form a complete roof structure.

In FIG. 5 a completed building is shown, and here the ends a of the composite arcuate roof members, instead of being supported on the corner posts of the building, are extended to external posts 35, and secured thereto in any desired manner. When a construction of this nature is provided, the walls 36 of the building structure may be positioned at any desired point interiorly of the supporting posts 35, to provide a building of any desired size.

FIG. 6 shows a modified form of construction wherein arcuate side members 42 are inclined to abutting relation and connected with or without a center pole as shown in FIG. 2. Members 42 may be integral, or Segmented and comprised of a plurality of connected sections, but in this form of the invention the ends of the are are connected by a chord-like brace 43, from which perpendicular braces 44 extend to the arcuate member 42. The sides so formed may be covered with siding, shingles, slate or the like 45, and the open top ends closed by triangular flat or arcuate pieces 46. Windows or doors 47 may be provided in the end portions 48, and covering material 49 may be located interiorly of the ends of the arcuate members, rather than thereacross as in the previous modification. A fiat, semicircular rain or snow shield 50 may, if desired, be suitably connected between the projecting edges of members 43 overhanging the windows or doors.

The roof supports may be used as shown, resting on a flat surface, or alternatively, be positioned atop the walls of a rectangular building as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 shows a building employing either the supports 10 or 42 as desired, mounted on walls 36a one of which is provided with a door 51. Siding a covers the frame member and a triangular member 42a closes the upper portion of the end space between the diverging frame members. The lower portion of this space is occupied by transverse louvers 52 which may be either fixed or movable in any conventional manner.

FIG. 8 discloses a building construction substantially identical with that of FIG. 7 except that a window 47a is protected by a shield a. In this instance the siding 49a at the end of the building extends over the edges of the support instead of between them as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 discloses a construction formed of a plurality of separable, easily transportable segments 10 interconnected at their tops as previously shown and covered with a canvas tent covering 55 including a flap or door 56. This type of structure is readily disasse-mblable and transportable for camping or the like.

Wide variations in size and general configuration of a building constructed in accordance with the instant invention are obviously provided, in that two or more component sections each comprised of angularly inclined arcuate members may be aligned either longitudinally, transversely or angularly, while the length and radius of curvature of the arcuate members may also be widely varied. Similarly the angle at which adjacent members are inclined toward each other may be varied to provide a relatively fiat or a relatively sharp peaked roof as desired.

It is to be understood that under certain circumstances the construction of the instant invention may be comprised of a pair of arcuate members intersecting at right angles to form a dome-shaped roof construction, in which case a cruciform central support is provided including 1-1 members having slides on the ends thereof, to which the ends of adjacent arcuate beams are connected in the manner previously described.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved building construction, particularly adaptable to the roofs of buildings, which is portable, readily assembled and disassembled, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a building construction the combination with a building having corner posts, a pair of rigid arcuate main supporting frame members, one extending between the corner posts on each side of the building, each arcuate frame member lying in a single plane with the planes formed by said frame members inclined inwardly and upwardly and having their topmost portions abutting at the longitudinal center line of the building, a tie connecting the ends of each frame member, roofing material laid fiat along each side of the frame formed by the inclined frame members and lying Wholly Within the areas defined by said frame members and said ties, said roofing material extending transversely across the diverging ends of said frame members, a pair of side posts intermediate the adjacent corner posts, a plurality of beams secured at one end to the top of each side post and diverging upwardly therefrom in the plane of the associated frame member, and secured at their upper ends to such arcuate frame member respectively between the center and ends thereof.

2. In a building construction, the improvement wherein the roof support comprises:

a first pair of corner posts;

a first arcuate rigid main supporting beam secured at its ends respectively to the first pair of posts, the are formed by the beams lying in a plane inclined upwardly and inwardly of the building relative to the first posts;

a second pair of corner posts, said first and second pairs of corner posts forming a quadrilateral;

a second arcuate rigid main supporting beam secured at its ends respectively to the second pair of posts, the are formed by said second arcuate beam lying in a plane inclined upwardly and inwardly of the building, said first and second arcuate beams meeting above the center of the quadrilateral;

a planar roof laid on each of the arcuate beams to form the roof sides;

arcuate end roof portions extending from each end of the building to the center, comprising linear roofing members laid fiat and filling the space between the diverging ends of the first and second arcuate beams;

a pair of side posts intermediate the adjacent corner posts; and

a pair of beams secured at one end to the top of each side post and diverging upwardly therefrom in the plane of the associated rigid beam, the upper ends of the beams of each pair being secured to the associated rigid beam respectively between the center thereof and the ends thereof.

3. The invention of claim 2 further comprising:

means securing the arcuate beams together at the center; and

a central supporting post secured to the beams at the can??? 9? the building.

4. In a building construction, the combination comprising:

corner posts forming a quadrilateral;

a pair of rigid beams connected at the ends thereof respectively to adjacent side posts, said rigid beams each forming an arc in one plane, said planes being inclined inwardly respectively from the sides of the building to a center;

means connecting the centers of the beams together at the center of the building;

each of said beams comprising,

a plurality of arcuate segments identical in length and radius of curvature, means connecting the segments together with the ends thereof in abutting relation; and further comprising a pair of side posts intermediate the adjacent corner posts; and a plurality of beams secured at one end to the top of the respective side posts and se- 20 cured at the other end to the means connecting the segments of the beam together, said plurality of beams lying within the respective planes of said rigid beams.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,358,918 11/1920 Arnandez et a1. 287-18936 1,639,930 8/1927 Davidson 52-86 X 2,545,556 3/1951 Pont 52-81 2,705,928 4/1955 lont 52-80 3,090,162 5/1963 Baroni 5280 3,126,708 3/1964 Jasper 52--86 3,154,888 11/1964 Graham 5280 3,215,153 11/1965 Huddle 52-80X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,018,469 10/ 1952 France.

OTHER REFERENCES Engineering News-Record, Mar. 24, 1955 (pages 35, 36).

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD W. COOKE, ]R., FRANK L. ABBOTT,

Examiners. M. O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A BUILDING CONSTRUCTION THE COMBINATION WITH A BUILDING HAVING CORNER POSTS, A PAIR OF RIGID ARCUATE MAIN SUPPORTING FRAME MEMBERS, ONE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE CORNER POSTS ON EACH SIDE OF THE BUILDING, EACH ARCUATE FRAME MEMBER LYING IN A SINGLE PLANE WITH THE PLANES FORMED BY SAID FRAME MEMBERS INCLINED INWARDLY AND UPWARDLY AND HAVING THEIR TOPMOST PORTIONS ABUTTING AT THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE OF THE BUILDING, A TIE CONNECTING THE ENDS OF EACH FRAME MEMBER, ROOFING MATERIAL LAID FLAT ALONG EACH SIDE OF THE FRAME FORMED BY THE INCLINED FRAME MEMBERS AND LYING WHOLLY WITHIN THE AREAS DEFINED BY SAID FRAME MEMBERS AND SAID TIES, SAID ROOFING MATERIAL EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE DIVERGING ENDS OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS, A PAIR OF SIDE POSTS INTERMEDIATE THE ADJACENT CORNER POSTS, A PLURALITY OF BEAMS SECURED AT ONE END TO THE TOP OF EACH SIDE POST AND DIVERGING UPWARDLY THEREFROM IN THE PLANE OF THE ASSOCIATED FRAME MEMBER, AND SECURED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS TO SUCH ARCUATE FRAME MEMBER RESPECTIVELY BETWEEN THE CENTER AND ENDS THEREOF. 